Every console system does this--paying homage to the past even as consumers are leaping into the future. The Dreamcast hosted various Midway and Namco arcade packages, and there was the famous (or infamous, depending on how you feel about 2-D space shooters) GigaWing. Sony and Konami are getting in on the act by bringing the Gradius series to PlayStation2--at launch, no less. While it gives many, if not most, people a significant "warm fuzzy" feeling to revisit the past, one can make a strong case that developing a PS2 version of Gradius III & IV was more about padding the launch line-up.If you are a fan of the side-scrolling shooter genre, though, this edition will likely please you. It has almost everything that a trigger-happy arcade hound could want: rapid-fire frame rate; lots of colour and animation; and that wonderful '80s feel. It also has some of the glitz that younger videogame fans demand, such as two completely new CG intro videos that are pretty dang cool looking.Konami has pulled out all the stops in revamping the look of the gameplay, too. The two games are now quite polygonally charged and texturally sophisticated. The graphics now use environmental mapping and polygon morphing makes the animation very smooth. Another nice feature, especially for a game like Gradius is that a stage-selection mode and a continue feature have been added to allow players to go back to wherever they want to start over, revisit and/or practice a tricky spot.While it may not register in the minds of those addicted to high-profile games like Fifa 2001, Gradius III & IV might be good to buy for casual gamers of all ages and skill ranges, since Konami has added modes for beginners and advanced players. Everyone from granny to baby brother should be able to pick this title up and thrash right out of the box. --Todd Mowatt